Lake Charles man pleads guilty to drug, firearm charges

Kevin Ardoin, 36, of Lake Charles, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents recorded Ardoin selling cocaine on June 22, 2016 in Lake Charles. Agents searched his home and found 1.9 ounces of crack cocaine, .5 ounces of powder cocaine, 13 Xanax pills, 14 grams of marijuana and $2,265. The next day, agents learned there were more drugs in Ardoin’s home than was previously found. They searched his home again and found $87,070, 432 grams of cocaine, and four firearms, which included a loaded Taurus .410 caliber pistol, a Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol, a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, and a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver.

Ardoin faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the drug count, and he faces not less than five years in prison consecutive to any other prison term and a $250,000 fine for the firearms count. He also faces three years of supervised release. The court set a sentencing date of August 2, 2017.

The FBI and Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.